-- Vice-Chair6 Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and the other7 members of the Education Committee. My8 name is Jordan Harris and I am the9 Executive Director of the Philadelphia10 Youth Commission. Unfortunately, we were11 unable to have a Youth Commissioner come12 and speak because of other class13 obligations, but I am here to provide14 their testimony. 17 So I do have a background in dealing with18 youth and dealing with bullying in the19 class that I will be running to after20 this. 23 The Youth Commission has been24 working with different partners25 164 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 throughout the City on this critical2 issue of bullying. In October of last3 year, the Youth Commission used its4 monthly radio show, heard on the fourth5 Saturday of every month on WURD 900 AM,6 to focus on the issue of anti-bullying7 legislation that had been introduced in8 the United States Senate by Senator9 Casey, and we also spoke with Dr. 13 Additionally, the Commission14 has joined with several other youth-lead15 organizations throughout the City to16 create the Campaign for Non-Violent17 Schools. In November, the Campaign for18 Non-Violent Schools hosted a Youth Power19 Summit, which was attended by more than20 200 of our city's youth. This event21 provided youth with an opportunity to22 share their thoughts and provide insight23 on how to curb the issue of violence in24 our city's schools. Within the next25 165 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 3, The5 Beat, an urban radio station here in the6 City, to host a two-hour forum that was7 broadcast live on air. 10 Here, more than 15 youth shared their11 stories about bullying and offered12 solutions to the problem. 16 It is no secret to anyone in17 this room that bullying is a problem18 facing youth throughout our city. On a19 daily basis, students in schools20 throughout the City are subject to21 verbal, physical and psychological abuse22 from their schoolmates. 25 166 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 Some bullied students are too scared to2 attend school. Others have trouble3 focusing in class, and some students even4 feel the need to become bullies5 themselves to avoid being bullied. It6 also affects other students not involved7 in the bullying altercations. 14 Education only happens in nurturing15 environments. Environments where16 bullying exists aren't nurturing17 environments and, therefore, it hinders18 the educational process. 23 Cyber bullying is a new twist24 on bullying that needs to be swiftly25 167 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 addressed. With one click of a mouse, an2 embarrassing personal moment can be3 shared with thousands via numerous social4 media outlets. 7 I'll say that again. 10 Sadly, the end of the world has become11 the end of life for certain youths in our12 nation, such as 15-year-old Justin Aaberg13 from Minnesota, 13-year-old Seth Walsh14 from California, 15-year-old Billy Lucas15 from Indiana and 18-year-old Tyler16 Clementi, a student at Rutgers17 University. 21 On the flip side, students who22 are bullied -- who bully their classmates23 are also suffering. Students do not24 bully because they are inherently bad25 168 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 people. There is usually an underlying2 cause. It is often said that hurt people3 hurt people. We must help students who4 partake in bullying of others to5 recognize the significance in their6 action. We must do this not just for the7 bullied students but also for the8 students who are committing bullying,9 because their development and education10 is just as important. 12 We commend the School Reform13 Commission and the School District of14 Philadelphia for recognizing this and15 their implementation of their16 anti-bullying policy.
We applaud their17 efforts, and we offer a few suggestions18 that were actually spoke earlier by19 Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, but I will20 reiterate, that currently the School21 District has an existing phone number for22 students to call if they feel23 uncomfortable to report bullying in24 school. We ask that in addition to the25 169 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 17 Additionally, we support the District in18 its exploration of restorative justice19 practices. Too often punishments serve20 as simply punishment and does not serve21 to actually mend conflicts between22 students. The restorative justice23 approach seeks not only to punish24 delinquent students but also build25 170 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 understanding, encourage healing and2 create acceptance within the affected3 group of students. 6 It is important to note that7 restorative practices and beefing up the8 SRC's bullying policy will not solve the9 bullying crisis in the School District10 alone. 15 Finally, I would like to offer16 the words of a former Youth Commissioner,17 Matthew Zaccagni. In October, Matthew18 worked with the Youth Commission to have19 a letter published in the Philadelphia20 Daily News, which I will read. "23 In December, the issue of24 harassment and bullying was brought front25 171 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 and center in this area after the2 incidents at South Philadelphia High3 School. Now the issue is again being4 brought forward through the recent string5 of suicides of LGBTQ youth across the6 country. 10 I know firsthand what type of11 constant torment can do to your12 self-esteem and self-image and sense of13 self. Attending a religious elementary14 school where differences weren't accepted15 by other students left me the target of16 constant bullying and harassment. 18 To say that years of this19 treatment didn't affect me, didn't chip20 away at my spirit would be a lie. 23 But now as a 21-year-old openly24 gay male preparing to graduate from25 172 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 13 Adults, parents, teachers,14 mentors and friends of these young people15 need to understand that this is a serious16 problem affecting today's youth, and it17 is our job to stand up and defend those18 who feel that they cannot defend19 themselves. 24 As Dr. Martin Luther King once25 173 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 4 So I challenge everyone today5 reading this to be silent no longer and6 to speak up for those who have felt they7 have lost their voice. I firmly believe8 that one honest voice can be louder than9 a crowd. 20
Thank21 you very much.22 The Chair notes that23 Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez is24 here.25 174 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 We thank you, Mr. Harris.2 Human Relations Commission.3 Is there anybody else here who4 wants to speak?5 (No response.)6
If7 not, we will have our meeting immediately8 thereafter with Tomas Hanna so that we9 may begin anew or begin again with some10 direction and to address the issues you11 mentioned.12 (Witness approached witness13 table.)14
Thank15 you. Thank you for your patience. We do16 apologize.17
Sure. 25 175 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 7 I am Rue Landau, the Executive8 Director of the Philadelphia Commission9 on Human Relations. 24 For years, the Commission has25 176 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 dealt with issues of intergroup conflicts2 in Philadelphia's public schools on a3 case-by-case basis. Our work has been4 sporadic. Some school principals solicit5 our help; others do not. Some school6 officials properly characterize7 intergroup conflicts as those motivated8 by one of our protected categories;9 others do not. 24 In January 2010, after we25 177 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 learned of the ongoing incidents that2 occurred at South Philadelphia High3 School against Asian immigrant students,4 we launched a year-long series of 115 public hearings throughout the City to6 hear firsthand from parents, teachers,7 students, principals and other community8 members about their experiences with9 intergroup conflicts in all of10 Philadelphia's public schools. 15 In all, 130 witnesses came16 forward to share their thoughts at our17 hearings. We also received an additional18 40 statements in writing. We learned19 that intergroup conflicts are a20 systemwide problem throughout the School21 District that require a systemwide22 solution. 24 Testimony revealed that too often the25 178 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 5 We heard evidence that the6 District's zero-tolerance policy of7 automatic out-of-school suspensions does8 not mitigate intergroup tensions. 13 On the other hand, we heard14 about school efforts and programs that15 work. We learned of models of16 community-based programs that allow young17 people from different backgrounds to18 relate to each other through shared19 interests. Some students spoke of20 positive dynamic efforts they utilized to21 peacefully resolve conflict. 25 179 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 Despite these positive efforts,2 the widespread presence of unresolved3 intergroup conflicts remains. We have4 created a 28-page report with our5 findings and recommendations to better6 equip the School District with resolving,7 tracking and preventing intergroup8 conflicts. 13 We hope our recommendations14 will act as a catalyst to encourage the15 District to make resolving, tracking and16 preventing intergroup conflict a higher17 priority. 22 Thank you to sponsors23 Councilwoman Blackwell and Councilwoman24 Reynolds Brown for the opportunity to25 180 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 2 When our report is released, I will3 submit a copy of it to this Committee for4 consideration. 9
Thank10 you very much.11 Questions or comments?12 Councilwoman Sanchez.13
Thank14 you, Rue, and for the work of the15 hearings. I know that you had hearings16 throughout the City. You said there were17 nine recommendations that the report is18 going to speak to. Can you speak to one19 or two like that are really low-hanging20 fruit that we should all kind of embrace?21
I think the22 low-hanging fruit has probably been23 discussed today. There's easy ones, and24 the School District has, throughout this25 181 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 past year while we've been holding these2 11 hearings, really been moving in the3 right direction. I believe that our4 hearings kept a constant focus on this5 issue, the issue of intergroup conflicts,6 the issue of students who are having7 conflicts because of a difference of8 their race or their national origin,9 religion, sexual orientation, and that10 this focus and the focus of the media and11 all of the other groups, the Youth12 Commission, the other student groups13 throughout the City, has kept a constant14 focus on this so that the District is15 starting to move in the right direction.16 For us, the main issue was, we17 heard stories in some schools of18 fantastic programs that were happening19 and stories in other schools where there20 were no programs at all or programs that21 weren't implemented properly. For us,22 the goal is to have the great programs go23 across the School District, go into every24 single school regardless of where that25 182 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971 school is, regardless of who is in that2 school, because it's very, very important3 that we just make a systemwide approach4 to this, where it starts at 440 North5 Broad and moves down to every school in6 the District.7
Thank8 you. I look forward to your report.9 I've been drafted to chair the Blue10 Commission on School Violence. So I'm11 very much looking forward to your report12 and the work, and I know the13 Administration, the School District is14 truly interested in figuring out15 different approaches to this. So we look16 forward to the experience of the Human17 Relations Commission and your work, and18 particularly you personally, to help us19 ensure that we could do that systemwide.20 So thank you.21
Are23 there any other questions or comments?24 (No response.)25 183 2/22/11 - EDUCATION - RES. 1007971
Then5 we will recess this hearing subject to6 the call of the Chair, and then we will7 talk at the back of the room.8 Thank you very much.9 (Committee on Education10 recessed at 4:00 p.m.)11 - - -12 13 14 15 16 17 18 184 CERTIFICATE2 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the3 proceedings, evidence and objections are4 contained fully and accurately in the5 stenographic notes taken by me upon the6 foregoing matter on February 22, 2011, and7 that this is a true and correct transcript of8 same.9 --------------------14 MICHELE L. MURPHY15 RPR-Notary Public16 (The foregoing certification of this20 transcript does not apply to any reproduction21 of the same by any means, unless under the22 direct control and/or supervision of the23 certifying reporter.)24